5

A R LY

TREAMER

MISSION

IGHTNING

ONDUCTORS

Protection area

A R LY

TREAMER

MISSION

IGHTNING

ONDUCTORS

A R LY

TREAMER

MISSION

Tests in High Voltage Laboratories

French Standard NFC 17-102 requires that every ESE lightning conductor first undergo a series
of high-voltage laboratory tests to determine the gain in triggering time in comparison to a
simple rod. The value obtained-referred to a 7
7T - equals the average trigger time over a run of
100 electrical discharges in the laboratory, minus a 35% safety margin. These figures are then
used to calculate each conductor's protection area according to the standardized formula.

From the outset, INDELEC subjected the PREVECTRON 2 to independent

testing in some of the most renown laboratories across the world, like
IREQ in Canada, EDF facility in France, KERI in South Korea &
CPRI in India. Moreover, INDELEC has its own High Voltage Laboratory
to develop and demonstrate the assets of the PREVECTRON 2.
The tests highlighted the advantages of the PREVECTRON 2's early
triggering system compared to a passive rod and allowed each model's

The protection area Rp of a PREVECTRON 2 lightning conductor

is calculated according to French Standard NF C 17- 102. Thus:
Rp = h(2D-h) + 7L (2D + 7L)
The protection area depends on a number of factors:
l Gain in triggering time 7T of the chosen PREVECTRON 2
Which allows the 7L value to be determined
According to the formula 7L(m)=V(m/us) 7T(us);
l D = 20,30,45 or 60 depending on the protection level
required (I, II, III or IV) on a given site, according to the
lightning risk assessment guide 17-108);
l The actual height of the lightning air terminal above the
Surface to be protected: h (where h < 5m, see table below).

average 7T value to be measured. The tests results are available on request.

Real lightning condition test campaigns

The decision to go ahead with real lightning tests was based on a simple premise:
laboratory testing cannot reproduce the complete parameters and constraints of a real
lightning discharge. In addition to the extensive tests carried out in the laboratory in
pursuance of standards, INDELEC is the only lightning rod manufacturers to actively
pursue real-life testing.
In order to gather as many data as possible, the tests were performed in America,
Europe and Asia, with each site offering very different lightning conditions. The first tests
were carried out in 1993 at Camp Blanding in Florida, since when experimentation has
moved on a Cachoeira Paulista in Brazil and Nadachi in Japan.

Protection Radius Table (RP)

Protection
Level I :
D = 20 m

Protection
Level Il :
D = 30 m

Protection
Level Ill :
D = 45 m

Protection
Level IV :
D = 60 m

h (m)
S 6.60
S 4.50
S 3.40
TS 3.40
TS 2.25

2
31
27
23
23
17

3
47
41
35
35
24

4
63
55
46
46
34

5
79
68
58
58
42

10
79
69
59
59
44

h (m)
S 6.60
S 4.50
S 3.40
TS 3.40
TS 2.25

2
34
30
26
26
19

3
52
45
39
39
29

4
68
60
52
52
39

5
86
76
65
65
49

10
88
77
67
67
51

h (m)
S 6.60
S 4.50
S 3.40
TS 3.40
TS 2.25

2
39
34
30
30
23

3
58
52
45
45
34

4
78
69
60
60
46

5
97
86
75
75
57

10
99
88
77
77
61

h (m)
S 6.60
S 4.50
S 3.40
TS 3.40
TS 2.25

2
43
38
33
33
26

3
64
57
50
50
39

4
85
76
67
67
52

5
107
95
84
84
65

10
109
98
87
87
69

Prevectron 2
R

Millenium
Controlled ESE System
NF C 17-102 compliant
Tested at CPRI, Bangalore
Tested in Real Conditions

Each test campaign has provided invaluable results, including:

l highlighting the performance of the PREVECTRON 2 through measuring and
comparing electrical activity at the tips of various lightning rods;
l operation of the PREVECTRON 2's triggering system;
l confirmation of the PREVECTRON 2's robust design by exposing it to repeated
strikes;
l total reliability provided by the PREVECTRON 2 in a wide range of situations
representative of all types of lightning conditions, including upward & downward
lightning strikes and tropical & winter storms.
A number of scientific reports have been produced in relation to this research, which
also allowed the PREVECTRON 2 be continuously developed from the initial design
through to the latest Millenium model.

IGHTNING

ONDUCTORS

A R LY

TREAMER

MISSION

IGHTNING

ONDUCTORS

A R LY

TREAMER

MISSION

IGHTNING

ONDUCTORS

dates back almost fifty years.

1

Since 1986, the company has invested heavily in the

manufacture of its PREVECTRON Controlled Early Streamer

Emission Lightning Conductor. This has involved both

4
5

Fundamental Research into the physical phenomena

associated with lightning, as well as extensive product

7
8

development.
The latest PREVECTRON 2 series provides optimal

9
10

protection against the direct effects of Lightning.

11
12
13
14
15

Operation

16

Prevectron 2 S 6.60 - ref : 1243

Elevation pole - ref : 2023
Clamping collar - ref : 6058
Side mounting brackets - ref : 3013
Copper conductors - ref : 5001
Aerial mast diverters - ref : 8760
Waterproofing holdfast - ref : 6031
Galvanized steel hook - ref : 6002
Lead plug - ref : 6005
Lightning flash counter - ref : 8010
Test clamp - ref : 7001B
Protection Sheath - ref : 7014
Copper earthing - ref : 7021
Earth rod - ref : 7030
Rod-to-conductor clamp - ref : 7039
Earth clamp - ref : 8004
Inspection housing

The PREVECTRON 2 operate in three controlled stages:

The ionization device is charged via the lower electrodes using the
ambient electrical field (several million volts/meter when storms are
prevalent). This means the PREVECTRON 2 is a fully autonomous
system requiring no external power supply.

l
l

The ionization phenomenon is controlled by a device which detects

the appearance of a downward leader, the local electrical field increases
rapidly when a discharge is imminent.
The PREVECTRON 2 detects changes within the field, making it the
only E.S.E. air terminal to react the precise moment the downward
leader develops from the cloud the ground.
Early triggering of the upward leader using a system of spark
ionization between the upper electrodes and the central tip.
The PREVECTRON 2's ability to trigger an upward leader ahead of any
other protruding point within the protected area, ensuring it will be the
preferential point of impact for the lightning discharge.

A R LY

TREAMER

MISSION

IGHTNING

ONDUCTORS

Installation & Maintenance

INDELEC's reputation in the field of lightning protection

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l

Installation procedure for the PREVECTRON 2 is governed by International Standard

French Standard NFC 17-102 and follows a series of simple rule
the tip should be positioned at least 2m above the structure to be protected;
with heights of less than 28m, a single down conductor is sufficient
(as long as the conductor's horizontal projection is less than its vertical projection);
the resistance of the grounding system should be less than 100;
PREVECTRON 2 activity can be recorded by installing a lightning strike counter;
the PREVECTRON 2 has been designed for the most extreme climatic conditions
(see the results of our real life lightning tests). INDELEC also markets a tester
allowing clients to regularly check the a terminal on-site.

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